Just Sweet Sixteen

Illustration in fabric of a cartoon cat's face in black and white.  Text on yellow ribbon coming off bottom right side of button.

Created in 1919 by Australian cartoonist Pat Sullivan during the silent era of the film, ‘Felix the Cat’ is widely considered the world’s first major animated cartoon character. Shown here, Felix made his first appearance in Feline Follies, a 1920s animated short. Many Felix animated shorts feature sociopolitical commentary, and key historical events of the time often serve as plot points for the films. Felix Turns the Tide (1922), for example, features a plot, not dissimilar to recently-ended WWI, where “Rats Declare War on Cats.” Felix Revolts (1923) illustrates worker unrest, workers strikes, and the rise of unions.

By 1923, Felix the Cat merchandise was widely available, especially on toys, buttons, and postcards. This particular button, reading “Just Sweet Sixteen,” may have been given to a person celebrating their 16th birthday, an event considered a significant “coming-of-age” milestone.

By the 1930s, Felix the Cat was waning in popularity. The silent film era had made way for the “talkies” era, and Sullivan, the cartoon cat’s original creator, wasn’t willing to give Felix a voice. It wasn’t until Walt Disney created Steamboat Willie that Sullivan agreed to give Felix a synchronized soundtrack, but by then it was too late; Felix’s transition to sound wasn’t popular, and the cartoon’s contract was canceled. Felix would be seen sporadically over the years, from television revivals to film appearances.

Learn more about the History of Flapper Buttons on the Busy Beaver blog.